County completes overhaul of troubled housing authority board

Harris County Commissioners Court on Tuesday appointed David Riddle to the board of the Harris County Housing Authority, completing a sweep that has seen four of the five members replaced since late February.

The lone board member still standing is chairman Beto Cardenas, who questioned bonus and buyout provisions in Rankin’s contract in voting no and has raised concerns about many agency decisions since then. He took over as chairman in March, the same month Rankin was replaced with interim CEO Tom McCasland.

Riddle was named by Commissioner Jack Cagle, whose Precinct 4 in north Harris County overlaps with the legislative district of Riddle’s mother, GOP State Rep. Debbie Riddle. Now-housing commissioner Riddle also is politically involved, serving as Senatorial District 7 Chairman and as a Precinct Chair for the Republican Party.

David Riddle, a 2001 Texas A&M University graduate, owns and operates a residential construction and remodeling company, as well as a horse-breeding business. He is involved with the Tomball Rotary Club and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

His term will expire Aug. 31, 2014.

“We look forward to working with David and will continue our efforts to earn and keep the public trust,” Cardenas said. “(County) Judge (Ed) Emmett and Harris County commissioners have made certain that we are moving forward, reforming our housing authority, and making best use of taxpayer dollars. We won’t let them or the residents of Harris County down.”